2014 NEW YORK: 2015 Honda HR-V Crossover Goes on Sale Late 2014

Honda’s upcoming Fit-based compact crossover will be called the Honda HR-V when it goes on sale in the U.S. this winter. We’ve known this crossover was coming since Honda first showed the Honda Urban SUV concept at last year’s Detroit auto show, and the production version of the HR-V closely follows the styling previewed by this concept, as well as the Japanese-market Honda Vezel that debuted last fall.

The 2015 Honda HR-V is based on the same platform as the 2015 Honda Fit hatchback, meaning that it should offer a huge amount of interior room thanks to its center mounted fuel tank layout. Predictably, the HR-V is significantly taller than the Fit and takes on a more SUV-like look. This model will slot in below the existing Honda CR-V crossover and compete with models like the Nissan Juke, the recently revealed Chevrolet Trax, and the Jeep Renegade.

This new model could be a big success for Honda, as the small crossover class is one of the most rapidly growing segments in the U.S. and globally. The Honda HR-V will be produced at the same new Celaya, Mexico, production facility as the 2015 Fit, which affords a total production capacity of 200,000 units per year.

We don’t know many more details about the 2015 Honda HR-V, but expect high levels of versatility since this crossover will feature the same “magic seat” that’s offered in the Honda Fit. In terms of powertrains, we wouldn’t be surprised to see either the Honda Civic’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine or the Honda CR-V’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder as standard equipment for the HR-V. (The 1.5-liter inline-four in the 2015 Honda Fit might be too weak for this larger, and presumably heavier, crossover.) All-wheel drive should also be an option for this compact crossover, and we would expect pricing to start right around $20,000 to fit below the CR-V’s $23,775 starting price.

Stay tuned for more information about the Honda HR-V crossover as we get closer to this new model’s on sale date in late 2014.

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